Automobile-lock



T. J. KEHOE.- AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6, I9".

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

Swwwtoz Ibo/Was 1 lfe/rae UNITED STATES FATE-NT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. .KEI-IOE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLYS-OVERLAND COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE-LOCK,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 22 1921 Application filed August 16, 1917. Serial No. 186,488.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. Knnon, a citizen of the United States, residing at T0- ledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, Improvements in Automobile- Locks, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description. V

This invention relates to improvements in automobile locks, and more particularly to improvements in locks of the type which operate with reference to the gear'shifting segment so as to lock the gear shifting lever in neutral position.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a'lock of this type which will be very simple and cheap in construction and readily accessible to the driver o-f'the machine. A further object of this invention is to provide a lock of this type which is so constructed that the fastening and securing means will be concealed when the gear shift lever is locked. sothat the lock cannot be'taken apart to releasethe lever, and in which the securing and connecting means are readily accessible when the lock is unlocked so that it can bereadily disconnected and taken to pieces if desired. 7

Further objects and objects relating to economics of manufacture and details of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. I accomplish the objects of my invention by'the: devices and means described in the following specification- My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the acc'ompanying drawing, forming a part of this specificatiomin which:

Figure I is a top plan view of the gear shifting segment, the gearshifting lever be ing shown in section, showing my improved lock connected to the gear shifting segment.

Fig. II is'a fragmentary, detail, sectional view, taken substantially on the line II-II of Fig. I. V I

' Fig. III is a detail, sectional view taken substantially on the line III-III of Figs. I and II.

Fig. IV is a transverse, sectlonal v1ew,

taken substantially in the line IV-IV of Fi II.

inner casing memben have invented certain new anduseful ig. V is a detail, perspective view of the Fig. is a detail, perspective view of the outer casing member, which issecured to the gear shifting segment, and

Fig. VII is a detail, perspective view of the slidable plate adapted to engage and lock the gear shifting lever.

In the drawing similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views and the sectional views aretaken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends oft-he section lines.

' Considering the numbered parts of the drawing, have shown a gear shifting segment 10 provided with an H-slot 11 in which the gear shifting lever 12 works in the usual manner. The construction of this gear shiftng segment with'the H-slot and the gear shifting lever is well known in. the art and needs no further description here as my invention is not concerned'with its construction, A U-shaped outer casing member comprismg vertical side members 13 and the horizontalcr'o'ss member 14 is secured to the side of the gear shifting segment, the side members '13 being provided with inwardly turned flanges 15 which are secured to the side of the segmentby therethrough, the heads of said bolts being within the U-shaped casing member. The edge of the top member let projects laterally slightly over the :side of the segment as shown in Fig. II of the drawing. An inner casing member is provided comprising the parallel side members 17 and the horizontal cross member 18, said U-shaped inner member being inclosed within the outer member just described and secured thereto by means of the spot welds 20, so that the horizontal member 18 of the inner casing isslightly spaced from the horizontal member let of the outer casing. Slot 19 is provided in the hori'- zontal portion18 of said inner casing member. Plate 21 is slidably mounted in said casing between the members 18 and 14, as clearly appears from Figs. II and III of the drawing, said plate being provided at its forward, end with a notch 22 which is adapted to engage the gear shifting lever, Said plate is also providedwith a longitudinally extending slot 23 and with a transversely extending slot 24, which is adapted to register with the slot 19 in member 18. The plate 21 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 25 having an opening 26 therein. A 10011227 having a key cylinder 28 and a bolt the b0lts'16 passing I V .From the description of the parts given above, the operation of my device shouldbe very readily understood. In Figl, the lock is shown'in position to lock the gear shift lever in neutral. In order to release the lever, the key is inserted the cylinder 28,.

which projects through the opening'26 of the flange 25, and the rotation of, the keywithdraws the bolt 31 fromtheopening -19 in the cross membe 18 of'the casing. The

plate 21 which carries the lock 27 can then H be moved transversely of the gear'shifting segment, withdrawing the end'thereof with the lotch 22 from engagement with'the gear shifting lever so that the lever can be freely moved in the HV-slot. '7 g 7 It will be seen that, when the lock is unlocked, by removing the screw 30 the plate 21 and the lock carried thereby can'be re moved from the casing made up of" the two 'U-shaped members and which is secured to the sideof the segment. When the plate '21 and the lock carried thereby is removed, the

. lock can be removed from its connection with the flange 25 by removing thescrews 29, and

hence the lock canbe changed or the interior of the lock-uncovered so as to repair the lock. When the lock is in operative position locking the gear shifting lever, the

heads of the screws 29 are disposed within" the casing member which is secured'to the gear shift segment by thescrews 16, and theheads of'both screws 16 and screws 29 "are disposed within such casing so that they are entirely inaccessible as long as the lock is in locked position. The removal of the scr'ew30 would not permitofsthe removal of the lock because the bolt'is still in engagement with the slots 19 and 2a sons to prevent movement of the plate and thelock carried thereby relative to the casing. This flock is very simple in construction and can be manufactured'at a low costand at the T same time t affords a very simpleand accessible. construction and one I which can be readily operated to lock the gear shift lever in neutral against unauthorized movement.

'I am aware that the particular embodi ment of my invention, which I havewher-e' shown and described, is susceptible (if-conisiderable variation without "departing from the spirit of my invention-'1 have found, however, that this particula embodiment is desirable from many standpoints,and, therefore, I desire to claim the same specifically the bolt 31 so dis- 30 passing through the ment, said casing comprising a pair of U 7 slidably disposed U-shaped members so as tobe movable trans- 'as'well as broadly, ,as indicated by the appended claims. 7 Having thus I claim as new and described my invention, what desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: a a

1. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a casing, adapted to be secured to the side of a gear shifting segment; guides upon said casing, a plate slid ably mounted between'said guides and movable transversely across the top of fsaid'segment, said plate being provided with a notch in the end thereof adapted to engage the: gear shifting lever; and a lock carried by said plate and operable to lock said plate relative to said casing.

2. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a casing adaptedto V be securedto the side of a gear shifting se'g- V shaped members telescoped one within the other. and secured together, the tops .of said U -shaped members being slightly spaced 7 apart; a plate carried by said casing and between the topsof said versely across the top of-said segment,- said plate being provided with a notch in the end thereof adaptedto engage' 'a gearlshifting lever; andza lock carried by said plate and operable to lock said plate relative to. said, 7 caslng. r 3. A deviceof the class described comprising the combination of a U-shaped member adapted to besecured to the side of a gear shifting segment; a second U-shaped 'membe telescoped within said first U-shaped ,transverse slot therein; a; plate: slidably mounted between the top portions of said U-shaped' members, and having, a 5 notch in the end thereof adapted to engage a gear shifting lever, saidplate being provided with a transverse slotadapted to alinei with the transverse slot in said U -shaped member; and lock carried by said plate and having a bolt adapted to, pass through saidalined 11 slots to lock the plate relative to said U- shaped members.

device of th'e class 'described the comblnation of a casing adapted to base cured to a gear shifting segment and provided with a pair of parallel-spaced top walls; a plate'having a downwardly extending portion adapted to, close the front of said casing, said plate being slidably mount ed'between said parallel top walls; and alock carried by said plate and adapted to lock the same relative to said casing.

5. A device of the class described com prising the combination of; a casing adapted to be secured to the side of a gear shifting segment and provided with a pair of spaced walls; a plate slidably mounted between said walls and adapted to engage a gear shifting lever to lock the same; means for limiting the movement of said plate relative to said casing; and a lock carried by said plate and having a bolt operable to lock said plate relative to said casing.

6. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a casing adapted to be secured to the side of a gear shifting segment and provided with a pair of parallel top walls, one of said top walls having a slot therein; a plate slidable between said top walls and adapted to engage the gear shifting lever to lock the same; means for limiting the movement of said plate relative to said casing; said plate being provided with a slot adapted to aline with the slot in said top wall; and a lock carried by said plate and having a bolt operable through said alined slots to lock the plate with reference to said casing.

7. A device of the class described comprising the combination or" a casing adapted to be secured to the side of a gear shifting seg ment, and provided with a pair of parallel top walls; screws securing said casing to said segment, the heads of said screws being disposed within said casing; a late slidably mounted between said'top walls and adapted to engage a gear shifting lever to lock the same; a lock carried by said plate and adapt ed to lock said plate relative to said casing; and screws securing said lock to said plate, the heads of said screws being disposed within said casing whereby they are inaccessible when said plate is locked relative to said caslng.

8. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a gear shifting segment; a lever operable therein; a casing provided with a pair of inwardly turned flanges, and a walls; means securing said flanges to said segment; a plate slidable between said top walls to engage the lever to lock the same; and a lock carried by said plate and having a bolt operable through alined slots in one of said top walls and said plate to lock said lever relative to said segment.

9. A device of the class described comprising the combination of a gear shifting segment; a gear shifting lever; a plate slidable transversely across the top of said segment and adapted to engage the lever to lock pair of parallel spaced top the same in neutral; parallel guides between which said plate vis adapted to move and means carried by. said plate for locking the same against movement relative to said segment.

10. The combination with a gear shifting segment having a slotted guide for a control lever of a casing fixed upon the segment and having parallel guide members and a plate adapted to be guided thereby across the top or the segment in a path extending at a right angle tothe slot and into engagement with the lever, and a lock carried by the plate and movable with the plate for locking said plate when moved to said position. a V i In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS J. KEHOE. 

